大乘起信論別記 1.124

1.124

It says: 'Because all dharmas are produced from false thoughts, all discriminations are discriminations of one's own mind; mind does not see mind, and no characteristics can be apprehended.' As a verse in the Ten-fascicle Laṅkāvatārasūtra says: 'Body, means of subsistence, and receptacle— / If they were seen as in a dream, / Therein there should be two kinds of minds, / Yet there are no dual characteristics. / Just as a blade does not cut itself, / And a finger does not point to itself, / Just as an eye does not see itself, / So too is this matter.' What does this mean? If the matters seen in a dream were truly existent as they are seen, then there would be duality. But in a dream there are truly no two characteristics of grasper and grasped; all minds in the three realms are like this dream, so it is said that all discriminations are discriminations of one's own mind. And in discussion, one's own mind cannot see itself, like a blade, a finger, and so on; therefore it is said that mind does not see mind. Since there is currently no other to be seen and it does not see itself, there is nothing seen; because the seen is non-existent, the seer is not established, and neither seer nor seen can be apprehended. Beyond this, what other characteristics could there be? Therefore it is said that no characteristics can be apprehended. As that verse says: 'It is neither other, nor cause, nor object of discrimination; / The five dharmas and the two minds / Are quiescent and free of such things.'